The Spain U.S. Chamber Of Commerce

Visa Information

The Chamber can assist its members with the transfer of personnel to the United States for participation in training programs. The Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been granted authority by the United States Department of State to sponsor training programs for a period of up to eighteen (18) months and intern programs for a period of up to twelve (12) months in the following fields:

• Business, management, commerce, and finance
• Public administration and law
• Information, media, and communications

Although these visas are mainly geared toward Spanish nationals, non-Spanish nationals are also eligible, as long as they participate in training programs with entities having a Spanish affiliation. Spanish companies, companies with an office in Spain, and international organizations of which Spain is a member all qualify as training entities having the necessary Spanish component. For more information, please visit our Careers Page.

Candidates must:

• be at least 18 years old.
• must have a formal and definitive offer from a training entity with offices in the United States.
• be a Spanish national, or must participate in the program through an entity with a definite Spanish component. 
• To participate in an intern program (up to 12 months), candidates must:
  • be currently enrolled in and pursuing studies at a degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary academic institution outside the United States, or
  • have graduated from such an institution no more than twelve (12) months prior to exchange visitor program start date.
• To participate in a training program (up to 18 months), candidates must have:
  • earned a degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic institution and have at least one year of prior related work experience in his/her occupational field outside the United States, or
  • at least five years work experience outside the United States in his/her occupational field

For more information, please visit our Careers Page.

• The corporation providing the training program must be a member of the Chamber. A corporation that is not a member of the Chamber may become eligible by joining and paying membership dues for the entire period the training takes place.
• Corporations are required to provide the trainee with a stipend during the training period. The stipend given to the participant by the company should be comparable to the amount paid to others with similar education and work experience, and should be at least $400 per week. Fringe benefits such as housing, meals, etc., may be used to supplement the stipend amount but may not be used in lieu of payment of the minimum wage amount.
• Training entities must provide a copy of the detailed training plan that will implemented for the duration of the training period as well as a comprehensive orientation progam. More information is included in the program application.
• The company must be willing and capable of providing a training program that falls within one of the following fields:
  • Business, management, commerce, and finance
  • Public administration and law
  • Information, media, and communications.

No. Non-Spanish nationals may be eligible if the proposed training entity in the U.S. has a definite Spanish component.

Training entities with a definite Spanish component include the following: Spanish companies with offices in the United States, companies with offices in Spain, and international organizations of which Spain is a member.

Yes, the J-1 visa program is only available to the following fields:

• Business management, commerce, and finance
• Public administration and law
• Information, media, and communications.

• Trainees may return to the United States to participate in additional training programs (for advanced training or training in a different field), as long as they meet the selection criteria and have been absent from the United States no less than two years after the completion of their initial training program
  
• Interns may return to the United States to participate in additional intern programs as long as they maintain student status or begin a new internship program within twelve months of graduating

J-1 visa trainees may take advantage of a 30-day grace period to settle personal affairs and travel in the U.S. During this time, the trainee will no longer be in J-1 status and will be under the jurisdiction of the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service).

Trainees may not continue their training program during this time period. It is also recommended that trainees do not travel outside the U.S., as they may not be allowed reentry.

Your family may join you in the United States during your training program.

Your wish to bring dependents with you during your training program should be included on your application, along with a copy of their passports.

If approved, we will issue a DS-2019 for each of your dependents. With this form, your dependents may apply for a J-2 visa at the U.S. Consular post in their home country. J-2 dependents do not have permission to work in the United States.

Green Card Lottery

Iberia
(800) 772-4642
www.iberia.es

American Airlines
(800) 433-7300
www.aa.com 

Continental
(800) 231-0856
www.continental.com  

Delta
(800) 241-4141
www.delta.com

We also recommend Air France, offering flights to Spain connecting in Paris:

Air France
(800) 237 2747
www.airfrance.com/us 

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Any of the following three membership categories may access the J-1 visa program: Regular $500, Sustaining $1000, Corporate $1500.

Centira has a special offer, please contact Stamati at slilikakis@oakwood.com or call 212-220-6737.

Please click here to view the brochure.